South Salt Lake Mayor on SLC homeless shelter site: 'We were not part of the conversation'

(KUTV) South Salt Lake City's mayor says the city was not part of the conversation to be one of five proposed sites for a future homeless shelter and feel the decision was rushed.

On Friday, Salt Lake County announced five proposed locations in the Salt Lake Valley to be added to the two existing future homeless shelter sites for Salt Lake City. Two of the five sites are located in South Salt Lake, the rest are in West Valley City.

Wood, the city council and members of South Salt Lake Police and Fire departments and local schools laid out several reasons why the proposed homeless resource center did not meet the mandatory selection criteria.

South Salt Lake Police spokesperson Gary Keller said his department gladly take on any challenge, but having a homeless resource center in the city would create a new law enforcement issue and bring on an "insurmountable task."

"This is just going to be a great challenge for our law enforcement to provide services and make it safe,:" Keller said on Monday. "Not only for the homeless people but the residents and the current population that we have."

Wood told the media gathered outside the parking lot of Woodrow Wilson Elementary School at 2567 S. Main Street that she wishes South Salt Lake would have had a seat at the table and been involved in the proposed site process.

"I can speak to the lack of communication or information we have been given as a community on this new process," Wood said adding that she got a phone call "a phone call right before the press release (went out) on Friday."

The Site Selection Committee criteria includes: proximity to transit; proximity to grocery stores and employment opportunities; and fit with the existing environment.